Does dental caries affect dental development in children and adolescents?

Abstract

Although a link between dietary changes, caries, and dental development has been observed, the literature provides little insight about this relationship. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between dental caries and dental development in a clinical sample of Albanian children and adolescents. In total, 118 children and adolescents, born between 1995 and 2004 and aged 6-15 years, were included. Dental caries in the deciduous dentition was assessed using the Decayed, Filled Teeth (dft) index and dental caries in the permanent dentition was assessed using the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Dental development during the permanent dentition was determined using the Demirjian method. Linear and ordinal regression models were applied to analyze the associations of dental caries with dental age and developmental stages of each left mandibular tooth. Dental caries in the deciduous dentition, estimated as a median dft of 2.0 (90% range, 0.0-9.1), was significantly associated with lower dental age (β = -0.21; 90% CI: -0.29, -0.12) and with delayed development of the canine, both premolars, and the second molar. Untreated dental caries (dt) was associated with lower dental age (β = -0.19; 90% CI: -0.28, -0.10). Dental caries in the permanent dentition, estimated as a median DMFT of 1.0 (90% range, 0.0-8.0), was not significantly associated with dental age (β = 0.05; 90% CI: -0.04, 0.14). However, the DMFT was associated with the advanced stages of development of both premolars and the second molar. The untreated dental caries in the deciduous dentition delays the development of permanent teeth.

FIGURE 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the study. The final sample consisted of 118 children and adolescents of Albanian ethnicity, born between 1995 and 2004 and aged 6–15 years. Patients were eligible to participate in the study based on the following criteria: 1) available dental panoramic radiograph (DPR) in individuals younger than 15 years; 2) no evidence of acute or chronic diseases in the anamnesis; and 3) no evidence of craniofacial trauma or surgery.

FIGURE 2

The schematic representation of dental age standards (Dutch, French-Canadian, and Saudi standard) used for the estimation of dental age in our sample. The dental age calculated by the French-Canadian standard best corresponded to the chronological age of the participants (R² = 0.75). The Y-axis represents dental age (years) calculated by each standard.

FIGURE 3

Association between dental caries in the deciduous dentition (dft index) and development of each left permanent mandibular tooth. The development of the canine, first premolar and second premolar was delayed in the group of children with mild dental caries compared to the reference group. The development of the canine, first premolar, second premolar, and second molar was delayed in the group of children with moderate to severe dental caries compared to the reference group. Mild dental caries: 1 ≤ dft ≤ 3; Moderate to severe dental caries: dft ≤ 4; Reference group: dft = 0. All parameter estimates and the corresponding 95% CIs were obtained from ordinal regression model adjusted for the sex, age, DMFT index and hypodontia. dft: Decayed-Filled-Teeth index for the deciduous dentition; DMFT: Decayed-Missing-Filled-Teeth index for the permanent dentition.

FIGURE 4

Association between dental caries in the permanent dentition (DMFT index) and development of each left permanent mandibular tooth. The first premolar and second molar were at the advanced stage of development in the group of children with mild dental caries compared to the reference group. The first premolar, second premolar, and second molar were at the advanced stage in the group of children with moderate to severe dental caries compared with the reference group. Mild dental caries: 1 ≤ DMFT ≤ 3; Moderate to severe dental caries: DMFT ≤ 4; Reference group: DMFT = 0. All parameter estimates and the corresponding 95% CIs were obtained from ordinal regression model adjusted for the sex, age, dft index and hypodontia. dft: Decayed-Filled-Teeth index for the deciduous dentition; DMFT: Decayed-Missing-Filled-Teeth index for the permanent dentition.